North Mankato: Teacher, union leader running for open House seat

Robin Courrier, a longtime teacher and union leader from North Mankato, is running for state Rep. Terry Morrow's legislative seat as a Democrat.

A special election is expected in the next few months, and Courrier said her experience in education, union governing and strong roots in the community makes her a good fit for the Legislature.

She has spent 28 years in education, the past seven of them as lead teacher at Bridges Community School. There's no principal at Bridges, and the lead teacher role is a combination of administration and teaching.

Courrier is president of the Mankato Teachers Association, the local teachers union. She's also on the governing board for Education Minnesota, the statewide teachers union, and is on a resolution committee for the National Educational Association.

"My strengths are my problem-solving abilities and I tend to be very rational and common-sense in nature," she said.

Courrier said important issues to her include U.S. 14 funding and the implementation of a new teacher evaluation system in Minnesota.

Courrier is married to Chad Courrier, a Free Press sportswriter.

Morrow is resigning to take a job in Chicago.

As of Wednesday, Gov. Mark Dayton had not declared a vacancy in Morrow's seat, but he's expected to announce one in the next week.